ST. LOUIS — The beginning of autumn is just around the corner, and the first hints of fall color are beginning to appear in the area. Before the remnants of Tropical Storm Francine brought rain to St. Louis, meteorologist Chris Higgins took a walk with his dog, Rosie, along Highway 94. While there’s not much color in the city yet, areas west of St. Louis are starting to show signs of fall. At Klondike Park in St. Charles County, he noticed some early yellows, oranges, and even a few reds.
This year’s fall color is starting early, likely due to the dry weather at the end of summer. For those looking to catch peak fall colors in popular spots, the timing varies. In the highest elevations of the Rocky Mountains, where the aspens turn golden, peak color happens in late September. Early October brings peak colors to the valleys of the Rockies, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and northern New England. By mid-October, the best views are usually found around Grand Rapids, Michigan, or in the Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
In the Midwest, peak colors are expected in late October for most of Missouri and Illinois, with the exception of St. Louis. The city’s warmer temperatures typically delay the peak until early November.
While it’s too soon to predict how vibrant the colors will be this year, Higgins says that there’s no such thing as bad fall colors, just different shades of great.
